BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- The Bakersfield Fire Department invited the public to an Open House to meet and greet first responders who make our community safe. The BFD Open House kicked off at Fire Station #1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the 2100 block of H Street. There were tons of activities for kids, including food, drinks, live demonstrations, sidewalk CPR, or the jaws of life used to extract victims from terrible car crashes. Kids and their parents lined up to practice spraying structure fires with the fire hose. ‘She started vomiting’: Concerns grow as norovirus outbreak spreads rapidly ..read more

(NEXSTAR) — Saturday will mark the 150th run of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. It also marks the opening leg of the Triple Crown races, which will be followed by the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. Every year, 20 horses and their jockeys line up at the starting gate, all vying for the illustrious blanket of red roses — and a major payout.  How much will the winning jockey make? Let’s explain.  Churchill Downs Inc., which hosts the stakes race, announced earlier this year that the Kentucky Derby purse is a guaranteed $5 million, a $2 million increase from the $3 million ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- An evening of games, food and drinks is set to take place next week. On May 10, the Junior League of Bakersfield is hosting it's inaugural 'Bunco & Bubbles' fundraiser event. Alyshia Manning and Melanie Schroedter, with the Junior League of Bakersfield, joined 17 News at Noon. The event will have many different attractions for people of all ages, organizers say. "We will have a mimosa bar, grazing table, and a wine wall, where you can get a mystery bottle," said Alyshia Manning. Manning says there will also be a silent auction for those at the event. Bunco &am ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Kern County launched its Asian Chamber of Commerce Friday morning at the Liberty Bell. Each May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander -- or AAPI -- Heritage Month, designated by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. The Biden administration has made it even more inclusive, calling it Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Throughout the country, the month calls for a celebration of that community. Kern County celebrated by launching the Kern Asian Chamber of Commerce and recognizing the group's more than 150 years here. "This is a v ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- The 2024 Point In Time count shows more people living on the streets in Bakersfield than ever before. "I've had people sneaking in my tent while I was sleeping," Loren Richard. "I'm a dead sleeper and I've woken up to people trying to take advantage of me while I was sleeping." The data shows 2,669 people currently experiencing homelessness in Kern County, which is 37% more than 2023. Loren Richard became homeless when she turned 18. She moved from North Carolina to Bakersfield. Now, she's 26 and still homeless. "I got adopted by my mom," said Richard. "She was in ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- A Wasco man who admitted to engaging in sex acts with girls he knew were underage has pleaded no contest to four felony counts, according to court records. Diego Emanuel Gomez pleaded no contest Thursday and faces eight years and four months in prison at his sentencing next month. Structure fire burns at recycling business in south Bakersfield Gomez was arrested April 6, 2022, and eventually 22 felony counts were brought against him. Investigators reviewed his Snapchat account and found inappropriate videos featuring girls that appeared to be under 16, court docum ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Firefighters were seen battling a structure fire Friday afternoon on South Union Avenue. On May 3, firefighters responded to a two alarm fire at a business on 2260 S Union Avenue just after 2:30 p.m. 17 News photographers on scene said the fire was at a recycling center and was jumping to another business nearby. Fire crews could be seen using the aerial ladder to spray the fire from above. The cause of this fire is unknown and under investigation. Fire crews are still active in the area. Check back later for updates regarding this story ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- A special celebration is scheduled Saturday to remember a dear friend of Circle 17, Clayton Winkler. Winkler was a video editor at KGET, editing news videos for the noon broadcast and created beautiful content for 17 News, before his sudden and tragic passing on July 27, 2022. Police search for runaway teen last seen in southeast Bakersfield Reed Robertson, Director of the "Rob Wink Film Festival," joined 17 News at Noon to speak about the Saturday's festival. The "Rob Wink Film Festival" was not only created in memory of Winkler, but is also committed to bringing ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- An attack by a neighbor against a woman at her most vulnerable -- showering in her southwest Bakersfield home -- has resulted in him getting nearly a decade in prison. Kyler Kuehl, 61, was sentenced Friday to nine years and eight months in prison, prosecutors said. He pleaded no contest last month to charges of assault to commit mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon other than a gun and burglary. ‘She was sold across California’: Prosecutor details case against man convicted of trafficking Bakersfield teen On June 17, 2022, police were called to a home on Park Bend ..read more

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- The latest data from the 2024 Point-in-Time count report reveal Kern's unhoused population has increased by more than a third compared to the previous year. According to Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative (BKRHC) report, 421 volunteers participated in the PIT Count which was made up of two parts: the sheltered and unsheltered count. SB I-5 open after semi-truck hauling wine overturns In total, 2,669 individuals are experiencing homelessness in Kern County. Of the total, 1,663, or 63%, people were found to be unsheltered. Volunteers surveyed different ..read more